Metal awning of the adjustable shutter type



Dec. 5, 1961 T. c. ALFRED 3,011,225

METAL AWNING OF ADJUSTABLE SHUTTER TYPE Filed May 11, 1959 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR THEODORE C. ALFRED BY MAHONEY, MILLER a RAMBQATTY'S.

%4 MANORNEY- Dec. 5,1961 T. c. ALFRED 3,011,225

METAL AWNING OF THE ADJUSTABLE SHUTTER TYPE Filed May 11, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV EN TOR FIG- 4 THEODORE c. ALFRED BY MAHONEY, MILLER 6 RAMBO, ATTY'S.

BY MTTORNEY Dec. 5, 1961 T. c. ALFRED 3,011,225

METAL AWNING OF THE ADJUSTABLE SHUTTER TYPE Filed May 11, 1959 s Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR THEODORE C. ALFRED BY MAHONEY, MILLER a. RAMBO, ATTY'S. BY WMLAHTORNEY able width, for example of the picture type.

Unite States My invention relates to a metal awning of the adjustable shutter type. It has to do, more particularly, with a metal awning consisting'of a plurality of louver blades or slats which are supported for adjustment relative to each other. This awning may be associated with any type of window in partial or complete covering relationship thereto but it is particularly suitable for wide windows such as the picture type windows.

The adjustable shutter type awning of this invention can be applied to a window at any selected inclined or angular position relative to the plane thereof or the wall in which the window is located. In fact, it may be made adjustable to various positions relative to the window to meet various conditions. The awning of this invention is so designed that regardless of the angular position of the awning, the slats can be adjusted relatively without bind ing, and without the creation of torque or twist in the slats and, therefore, the slats can be of lighter construction. Furthermore, the adjusting mechanism which I have provided is 'such that it will not appreciably obstruct the view through any portion of the picture window. The operating mechanism is such that it can be operated easily and positively and without any danger of binding of the louver slats or damage to such slats or other parts of the awning and operating structure. Also, in its preferred form the locking mechanism can selectively adjust the slats into the exact position desired and is self-locking.

Various other objects and advantages will appear as this description progresses.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention but it is to be understood that specific details thereof may be varied without departing from basic principles.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of an awning structure according to my invention illustrating by broken lines the adjustment of the slats or louver blades.

ater ice position of the unit relative to the window 11 and supporting wall 16, as shown by comparison of FIGURES 1 and 3. These adjustments can be accomplished also without binding of the operating mechanism or undue FIGURE 2 is a segmental inside elevational View of my awning structure applied to a picture type window. FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing the awning in a horizontal position rather than in an inclined position as in FIGURE l.

FIGURE 4 is an outside elevational view of the awning structure of FIGURE 1.

- FIGURE 5 is a detail of the slat adjusting mechanism. FIGURE 6 is a transverse sectional view taken along 'line 66 of FIGURE 5.

With reference to the drawings, I have designated my awning unit generally by the numeral 10. It is shown associated with a window 11 which may be of consider- The awning unit shown is designed to be positioned over about the upper half of the window, when in the 45 position shown in FIGURE 1, although it can be adjusted to completely expose the Window when moved upwardly into horizontal position, as shown in FIGURE 3. Other arrangements can be provided, for example the awning unit can completely cover the window when in vertical position or completely expose it when in horizontal position. Other arrangements may also be provided. InFIGURES 1 to 4, the awning unit is shown closed but, as will be apparent from the following description, it is of the shutter type and can be opened to varying degrees to admit light.

stress on the awning parts regardless of the angular position. 7

The awning unit may include any suitable number of laterally spaced supporting rails 12 which are preferably in the form of angles. Atv least two of these angles are provided and are located adjacent the sides of the unit 10 and the window 11. The upper ends of the supporting rails 12 are pivoted at 13 to the building structure or wall 16 by means of the brackets 17 fastened thereto. The rails12 are joined together at their lower ends by means of a transverse connecting bar 18. Connected to the two outer rails 12 at their lower ends are the telescoping rod units 19, each of which includes a section 20 that is pivoted to the wall 16, at 21, and a section 22 that is pivoted to the rail 12, at 23, and which has its inner end slidably fitting in the section 20. Bolts 24 may pass through aligning sets of openings in the telescoping rod sections 20 and 22 for holding such sectionsin adjusted condition. Sliding of the sections 22 relative to the sections 20 will determine the angular position of the rails 12 relative to the building 16 since they will swing about the pivots 13. Thus, the entire awningunit 10 can be adjusted to various angular positions relative to the plane of the window 11.

Covering the upper ends of the rails 12 and their pivots 13, including the brackets 17, is a drip slat 30a which is hinged to the wall 16 at 31. The hinge connection includes 'a hinge 29 which permits swinging of the slat 30a downwardly by gravity; This slat arrangement will direct water from the wall downwardly over the rest of the awning unit 10. Y

A plurality of transversely extending slats 30 are hinged to the rails 12 for adjustment relative to each other. Each slat extends transversely over and beyond the outermost rails 12 and each slat is provided with an outwardly turned lip 32 at its upper or inner edge and an inwardly turned lip 33 at its lower or outer edge. The slats 30 are positioned on the rails 12, as indicated in full lines in FIGURES l and 3, in such a manner that when the awning unit is closed the lower or outer lip 33 of one slat will extend downwardly over the upper or inner lip 32 of the next lower or outer slat. The rails are molded at 12a so as not to interfere with the slats 30 when they swing open. With regard to the uppermost or innermost slat 30, it will be noted that the hinged slat 30a will overlap it and hasa depending outeror lower lip 33a which will contact the surface of the'adj'acent slat 30 and slide thereagainst during adjustment of the awning unit 10 about the pivots 13.

Each slat 30, as shown best in FIGURE 5, is pivoted to all the rails 12 and, as previously indicated, there are at least two of these rails. Thus, each slat 30 carries the hinge brackets 35 and each hinge bracket is provided with a flange 36 which bears against the fiat inner surface of the slat 30 and can be bolted thereto by means of the bolts 37 or riveted or otherwise fastened thereto. Projecting inwardly or downwardly from the flange 36 is a beyond the pivot point 39. The extension 40 of each of the hinge flanges 38 is pivotally connected by means of a pivot bolt 41 to a connecting operating bar 42 which connects all of the hinge brackets 35 together. Thus,

adjustment of one slat 30 will bring about adjustment of all slats 30. At least two of these bars 42 are provided and will be properly located adjacent the outermost rails 12. A tension spring 43 is connected to one or each of the bars 42 to move the bars normally to a position where the slats 30 are closed. This spring is anchored to the associated bracket 17.

For adjusting the slats 30, from their normal position where they are held by gravity and the spring 43, about the pivots 39, I provide a flexible actuating tension member in the form of a cable and operating arrangement which includes a yoke member 45 that extends trans- 'versely within the awning unit 19 intermediate the hinged and free ends thereof. This yoke 45 preferably extends between the two outermost rails 12 of the awning unit. It is rigidly attached to the outermost brackets 35' by means of the bolts 37 or other fastening members. The transverse portion of the yoke 45 will be spaced inwardly from the rails 12 even when the slats 30 are closed. When they are adjusted to open position, the transverse portion of the yoke 45 will move inwardly or downwardly to a greater extent away from the rails 12. Since the yoke 45 is rigidly attached to one of the slats 39, swinging movement of the yoke 45 will produce pivoting movement of thatslat about the pivots 39. Also, since the attachment is made at both ends of the slat at equally spaced points on both sides of the midpoint thereof, there will be no torque or twist created in. the slat to which the yoke is attached. Furthermore, since all of the slats are operatively connected together by the bars 42 equally spaced from the center of the unit, adjustment of all the slats 36) about the associated pivots 39 will occur simultaneously and without creating of torque in any of the slats.

The cable arrangement for swinging theyoke 45 exerts a direct pull on the yoke in such a manner as to overcome gravity to swing the slats upwardly, as shown by the broken lines in FIGURE 1. This pull is exerted by a single cable 46 which is connected to the cross member of the yoke 45, as at 47, this connection being preferably made at or near the midpoint of the yoke 45. The cable 46 passes outwardly around a pulley 48 which is mounted on the outer transverse bar 18 intermediate the ends thereof in the same vertical plane as the connection 47. It passes laterally outwardly around another pulley 49 which is mounted adjacent the outer end of the bar 18. The inner end of the cable is connected at 50 to the outer end of the crank arm 51 of a worm and gear type adjuster 52 which is mounted at the side of the window frame of the window 11. This crank arm 51 is adjusted in a vertical plane by means of the worm and gear mechanism 53 operated by a crank 54 inside the window frame. The crank arm 51 and the pulley 49 are in substantially the same vertical plane normal to the window 11. The

worm and gear operator is preferred because it is selflocking and because it permits of fine adjustments of the slats.

It will be apparent that operating the crank 54 will pro duce a direct pull through the connection 47 on the yoke 45. This pull will be normal to the plane of the window 11 even though the connection 47 is intermediate the sides of the window or ends of the yoke 45. The pull will always be in a plane normal to the plane of the slats 30 and substantially midway between the sides of the awning unit but will also be in a direct line substantially parallel to the plane of the pivots 39 of the slats. Furthermore, the yoke 45 will serve as a leverage means for increasing the pull exerted by the cable 46. The pull will be so directed that there will be no danger of binding at the pivot points of the slat-mounting brackets 35 and the pivotal connections 41 of the brackets to the bars 42. Furthermore, the cable arrangement will not extend substantially below the lower edge of the awning unit 10, except at the side where it will not obstruct the view through the picture window. This is true regardless of the angular position of the awning unit 10. Furthermore, the cable arran ement will exert a direct and positive pull on the yoke- 45 regardless of the angular position of the unit. Adjustment of the angular position of the awning unit will not affect the cable adjustment except that in extreme positions it may be necessary to shorten or lengthen the cable 46 at the connection 47. The adjustment may be from either side of the window. When the pull on the cable 46 is relaxed by reverse rotation of the crank 54, the slats 30 will be automatically closed by the spring 43.

It will be apparent that with the above-described arrangement the slats are normally closed by spring pressure but can be opened by a pull on the cable. The pull on the cable preferably results from operation of the worm and gear type opener although a winch or other device could be substituted therefor. However, the worm and gear type opener has advantages as previously mentioned. The pull exerted by the cable is in a vertical plane normal to the slats and the window. Regardless of the angular position of the awning unit, the pull on the yoke lever will be direct and will always be in the general direction of the plane of the awning unit. Thus, with this cable arrangement there will be no binding regardless of the angular position of the awning unit relative to the plane of. the window. Furthermore, there will be no torque on v the slats.

It will be apparent that my awning structure has many advantages, some of which have been discussed and others of which will be apparent. Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: An awning of the adjustable shutter type comprising a plurality of slats, means for pivotally supporting said slats, said means comprising laterally spaced rigid supporting rails having inner ends connected to a supporting structure and having outer ends connected by a transverse bar, said slats extending transversely of said rails and said rails being located adjacent the outer ends of said slats, said slats .being pivoted to said rails for swinging movement between closed and opened positions relative to each other, means for connecting said slats together for simultaneous pivoting on said rails and including a connecting operation bar adjacent each of the rails extending transversely of said slats in substantially parallel relationship to said rails and being pivotally connected to said slats, an actuating member for causing said swinging movement of the slats and being in the form of a yoke which isrigidly attached to one of said slats so as to swing therewith about the pivots of said slat, said yoke having angular end lever-portions attached to the slat and extending inwardly therefrom and at an angle thereto and a transverse connecting portion attached to said angular end lever portions and disposed inwardly of the slat in substantially parallel relationship thereto, said transverse yoke portion extending from the midpoint of the slat in both directions and said end lever portions being connected to the slat adjacent said rails, and a flexible operating member connected to the transverse connecting portion of said yoke intermediate the ends thereof for swinging said yoke to swing said slats, said flexible member extending outwardly from said transverse portion of said yoke to said transverse bar in a plane spaced inwardly of said slats and then laterally to one side of the awning unit and inwardly to said supporting structure from where it can be actuated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 208,692 Pohl Oct. 8, 1878 349,810 Pohl Q. Sept; 28, 1886 2,325,276 Rife July 27, 1943 2,592,579 Kramer Apr. 15, 1952 

